The Morning's Dusk

Chapter 4

I dipped a bare toe into the cool waters and sighed. No wonder Jake loved it here so much. I turned and saw Jake standing on a black rock, a sour look on his face.

I smiled sweetly and he melted for a second, then shook his head like he always did around me, to stay on track. He asked, "Why are you here, Renesmee?" I said, puzzled,"To come and see you, Jake."

He groaned and said, "You know what the bloodsucker said about the woods, Ness. You're not safe here." He looked at the ground and his hands shook really fast. I checked to see if anyone was around-in case he really did shift- and locked his wrists in my hands. "Hey, I'm safe with you." He stopped shuddering a little and I knew he needed help to come back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissed him, and whispered in his ear, "It's okay." He was slowed to a rocking motion that was way too fast to soothe, so I gently nibbled his ear. Then I backed off and sat by the water, petting a hermit crab.

After about a minute, Jake came and sat beside me. He said, "I don't want to say this, but I think it's the best for the both of us." I didn't like how this was going. He continued, carefully watching my expression. "Maybe we should just...be friends. Since you always want to come see me-even when you could be killed." It looked like saying this caused him literal pain.

I cut him off by saying, "Carslisle says my skin is inpenetratable." He said a little louder, "Nessie, you don't know that! It doesn't count with you! That stupid Chase guy was crushing you, and you were letting him! This is so frustrating." He waited a few seconds and said, "It's too hard for me to not know where you are all the time. But since you can't see me anymore.." I scoffed and said, "Whatever, Jake! You're just mad about not getting to my mom! So what? She isn't me, okay? So why don't you just forget about us, me, everything. Just forget we ever met."

I stood to storm off, ready to burst into tears the second I got to Seth so he could take me home; the last thing I needed was another attack. But Jake had other ideas. He grabbed my wrist and yanked me back down. He crawled over me and said, "Why would I? Do you think I don't want you or something? Is that what your dad brain-washed into your head?" I jerked my head to the side, looking out at the ocean.

Apparently he thought this akward and embarassing position was romantic, because he tried to kiss me. I pulled away and waited for him to climb off of me. Wen he did (with many angry sighs and frustrated, buzz-kill groans) I jumped up and said, "Nice knowing you, Jacob." Then I ran straight for Seth.

At home, I laid on my bed, crying while Jake's words jumbled around in my head. Until I heard Aunt Jane and Aro knock on the door of my room. I hurriedly wiped my face and let them in. Jane gripped me tightly in her stone-cold arms. Then there was Aro's dead hug. We briefly talked about school, how we've been, and Chase. Jane and Aro went out to find them (Chase's family), along with Emmett and Jasper.

At school, I walked effortlessly down the hall, occasionally glancing at a guy or two. It wasn't until I heard sharp growls that I realized I was being followed by Jake.He cornered me into a hallway, much like he had the other day-but for two very different reasons.

He asked, "Why did you leave me hanging like that yesterday?" I gave him a confused look and asked in a bored tone, "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" I tried to walk away, but he towered over me. He begged, "Please, Nessie." I gave him an icy stare and said coldly, "Don't you have some pigs' houses to knock down?" He rolled his eyes and I looked everywhere but at him. I hated being mean to him, but I hated how he treated me like a baby.

He grabbed me by the shoulders until I looked at him. His eyes were darker than usual, and the circles under his eyes were really raccoon-like. It broke me. He'd been up all night, protecting me, and I was trying to hurt his feelings? I gripped the back of his shaggy hair and kissed him-hard. After a while, I got tired of standing on tip-toe. I knew Jake would sense that, and what his reaction would be. In his head, the logical thing to do is pick me up. So he did. When we eventually had to come back for air, we sank to the floor, out of breath. I rested my head on his chest and apologized. He snorted and said, "Sorry, I don't know you." I laughed and mock-punched his huge arm muscle. Bella came around the corner and found us lying there, panting from laughing. And we didn't know what we were even laughing about. She sighed and said, "I'm only going to ask this once. Why are the two of you laying on the floor together in this dark hallway, panting like dogs?" I laughed and Jake did, too. He said, "You said 'dog' and I am one, Bells." She growled and said, "Why is Nessie's sweater halfway unzipped?" She threw a menacing look at Jake and I said, "Mom! Chill!" She shook her head and said, "Please say you didn't, because Edward..." I laughed and said, "Mom, I promise we didn't do anything." She sighed a breath of relief and said, "You really need to get to your next period. Oh, and, Chase's family is almost completely done for. There's just one left-he's the tricky one. If you look in his eyes, it's like being hypnotized. Your power would be the only thing to beat it, Ness."

I laughed and stood. I explained, "As if D-I mean, Edward, would let me anywhere near something dangerous. Bella looked up at Jake and mumbled, "Yeah, sure.."